Piqui’s Law (SB 616) Mandates California Courts to Prioritize Child Safety in Custody Disputes
Piqui’s Law (SB 616) Mandates California Courts to Prioritize Child Safety in Custody Disputes
Piqui’s Story In April 2017, Ana Estevez reported her son Piqui missing after his father failed to show up for a scheduled custody exchange. The parents had been fighting over custody as Ana sought to protect her son from her ex-husband. Officers notified Ana that Piqui’s father Ara Andressian was found unconscious in a park and had been taken to a local hospital, but there was no trace of Piqui.…
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Everything You Need to Know About Emancipation in California
Who Can Get Emancipated? Emancipation is the process by which teenagers under 18 are granted legal adulthood by the court. Once you are emancipated, you are no longer under the custody of your parents, meaning you can do certain things without your parents’ permission. These include: Living on your own Making healthcare decisions Applying for a work permit Enrolling in school However, even if you are emancipated, certain laws still…
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Can You Get Child Custody if Convicted of Domestic Battery?
The case of H.H. v. A.M. is about two separated parents fighting for custody of their child and determining a proper visiting schedule. The court gave the mother sole custody but allowed the visiting schedule to be joint by giving the father visiting time Tuesday through Friday. This meant the child lived with each parent approximately half the time and therefore undermined the sole custody awarded to the mother. The…
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What Happens If The Police Come To Your House Due To An Allegation Of Domestic Violence?
What Happens If The Police Come To Your House Due To An Allegation Of Domestic Violence? Unfortunately, when people live or spend a lot of time together, sometimes situations can become hostile and even aggressive. In the state of California, police are dispatched to over 15,000 domestic violence calls every year. The state of California defines domestic violence as “abuse or threats of abuse when the person being abused and…
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Parents Who Make Mistakes Can Improve and Regain Custody of Their Children in Dependency Court
Parents Who Make Mistakes Can Improve and Regain Custody of Their Children in Dependency Court When a parent does something that results in social workers knocking on their door, it often leads to their children being taken away by the state. This mistake can be anything from spanking their child with a belt to getting into a fight with their significant other in front of their kids. If you end…
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How to Avoid Going to Court for Child Custody
Custody disputes are never easy. In most cases, each parent thinks their child would be better off in their custody, and it often turns into a competition between parents. That is why attempting to settle custody matters before going to family law court may be best for all parties. So, how can you avoid the judges, litigation, testimony and expensive court fees in your custody case? Written Custody Agreement and…
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5 Tips for Splitting Custody During the Holidays
The holidays are meant to be a time of happiness where you enjoy the company of your family and loved ones. However, this time of year can be difficult for families who have gone through a divorce or custody battle. Parents don’t always see eye to eye when it comes to how their children spend the holidays, and this could lead to arguments and resentment. To avoid any uncomfortable exchanges…
Read MoreHow to Battle the Biases of a Judge in Your Family Law Case
Unfortunately, the outcome of many cases reveals that in some areas of the law, the fundamental principal of equality is too often shoved aside in favor of entrenched cultural biases. This is especially true in family law, where the traditional views of gender roles in a marriage often dictate the outcome in child custody and divorce cases. Every family law case is decided by one judge. A judge, like all…
Read MoreFighting Back Against False Claims of Child Abuse During Child Custody Cases
It is not uncommon in child custody cases for one parent to make false accusations of child abuse against the other. In the heat of the moment, this can seem like a possible way to gain an upper hand. Fortunately, there are ways that you can fight back against false accusations of child abuse. Understanding Child Abuse Charges (PC 273) The first step is to understand the accusations against you.…
Read MoreGaining Custody for Fathers is Still an Uphill Battle
While social movements have been successful in removing many of the gender-based stereotypes that used to factor into child custody decisions, there still exists is a large disparity between the percentages of mothers who are awarded child custody compared to fathers who are granted custody. While California courts no longer operate with a presumption that children are better off with their mother, public perception is that men face a more…
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